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Articles with the Tag: Courts

Two men charged with killing, selling eagles

FLATHEAD RESERVATION — Two men have been indicted on charges of killing some 3,600 federally-protected birds, including bald eagles, for profit.  According to court documents, Simon Paul and Travis John Branson are accused of killing and selling eagles on the black market between 2015 to 2021. ...

Court approves significant reforms for Lake County Jail

News from Upper Seven Law  MISSOULA — On Nov. 21, a federal court gave final approval to a settlement between the inmates of Lake County Jail and jail administrators. The jail agreed to several major changes, including adopting new policies and procedures and building both an outdoor recreati...

Montana Supreme Court says counties wrong on 95-mill tax issue Montana Supreme Court says counties wrong on 95-mill tax issue

The Montana Supreme Court Wednesday ruled against Montana county governments in a dispute over the Montana Department of Revenue’s authority to order the full collection of the 95-mill state-level school equalization levy, a formerly obscure piece of tax bills that became a flashpoint this fall as stat...

White pleads not guilty to charges related to death of Arlee woman White pleads not guilty to charges related to death of Arlee woman

POLSON — Sunny Kathrinne White pleaded not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide while under the influence (or alternatively – negligent homicide), accidents involving another person or deceased person, two counts of criminal child endangerment, and a count of criminal possession of dangerous d...

Montana Court blocks enforcement of ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth

News from ACLU Montana MISSOULA — A Montana state district court judge recently blocked enforcement of Senate Bill 99, the discriminatory law that threatens the health and well-being of Montana transgender youth by denying them access to the only evidence-based care for gender dysphoria. In his or...

Valley Views

The 2021 and 2023 sessions of Montana’s Legislature perpetrated a full-on war against Montana’s courts and judiciary. Dozens of anti-court/anti-judiciary bills were offered in these last two legislative sessions. The objective of these attacks? Demonize and marginalize Montana’s courts, ...

Man accused of murdering mother, concealing her body Man accused of murdering mother, concealing her body

POLSON — A Polson man is accused of stabbing his 86-year-old mother to death and then attempting to conceal her body in her home where her body remained for several days. Garrett Edward Vaska, 46, has been charged with deliberate homicide committed with a dangerous weapon and tampering with or fabri...

Ronan man admits to assault on peace officer Ronan man admits to assault on peace officer

A Ronan man admitted to assaulting a law enforcement officer and damaging a patrol car. Leroy Francis Toupe, 41, entered a plea of guilty to the amended charge of misdemeanor assault on a peace officer and felony criminal mischief at District Court in Polson on Sept. 7. The plea was entered as part of an agr...

Court issues preliminary injunction to prevent authorization of private schools

News from Rylee Sommers-Flanagan, Upper Seven Law HELENA — On Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023, the First Judicial District issued a partial preliminary injunction to prevent enforcement of House Bill 562 (“HB 562”). The district court found that the bill likely violates separation of powers p...

Polson man pleads guilty to child endangerment

A Polson man admitted to charges of driving impaired when he rolled his vehicle with a child inside. Cory Robert Wetherelt, 22, entered a plea of guilty at District Court in Polson on Aug. 30 to felony criminal child endangerment. The plea was entered as part of a plea agreement that comes with a joint re...


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